Vernon County Health Department, WI

10/02/2026

‼️Session Update!
Unfortunately, due to low registration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Hillsboro session on Monday October 5, 2026.
Please know, 📢Your Voice Still Matters!

This initiative focuses on reducing intimate partner violence through community engagement, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.

As part of this initiative, our team has held community listening sessions. These sessions provided an opportunity for community members, organizations, and local partners to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

Through these conversations, we are working to identify community needs, strengthen partnerships, and better understand where we can focus our efforts to make a meaningful difference.

We have also heard from community members about the importance of having trusted places where individuals can access information, resources, and support related to intimate partner violence. Identifying and connecting with organizations and community locations that can serve in this capacity is an important part of this work.

The conversations we have had so far have reinforced how valuable community voices are in shaping this initiative.

When we come together as community partners to support individuals and families in our rural communities, we have an opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change.

Your perspective and the work you do in our community are important voices at the table.

Keep watching for more events from our initiative to come!

09/23/2026

Are you someone who provides recourses to community members?
🔘Businesses
🔘Library
🔘Churches
🔘Food Pantries
🔘Department Heads or Human Resources
🔘Health Care
🔘Town/Village/City Offices
We need you at our table!

Two sessions remain!
Our next session will be held in Genoa on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
The last session will be in Hillsboro on Monday, October 5, 2026 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm.

These sessions are very casual. Our session last night had great conversations. These provided lots of input on where we need to continue to focus our efforts and where we need to grow. This is why your voice matters!

The Vernon County Intimate Partner Violence Prevention & Response Initiative Team are hosting community listening sessions throughout Vernon County.
This project aims to reduce both the occurrence and long-term effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) through early identification, cross-sector education, trauma-informed mental health services, and stronger community support networks. It engages multiple touchpoints, including schools, clinics, faith institutions, businesses, and law enforcement, and is guided by community input and systems mapping to ensure responsive, locally tailored solutions.
Attending a listening session will provide you with knowledge of what the problem is? Learn the history of this initiative, and why your voice really does matter and how using it will help this project to develop even further.
Please share this with anyone to whom you think would be interested in empowering the communities through participation and shared decision-making in project development.
Register for the session that fits your schedule best through this Jotform link: https://form.jotform.com/262246850708057

09/16/2026

📢IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

2 Confirmed Cases of Measles in Vernon County, WI.

Health officials investigating possible exposures have confirmed 2 cases of measles in Vernon County. The cases were confirmed through testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.

Vernon County, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, are working to identify and directly notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus.

People who are most at risk are those who are not vaccinated or don’t know their vaccination status. If you are unsure if you are vaccinated against measles, contact your health care provider or your local health department. If you develop symptoms, call your health care provider before going into the clinic.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes. It can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, brain damage, deafness, and can sometimes be deadly.

Symptoms of measles typically appear approximately 10 to 12 (with a range of 7–21 days) days after exposure, and include:
~ Runny nose
~ High fever (may be greater than 104°F)
~ Tiredness
~ Cough
~ Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
~ A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.

If you develop any symptoms of measles, stay home (do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call your doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus.

The best way to protect against measles is to get vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. DHS recommends children receive two doses of MMR vaccine. The first dose should be given between 12–15 months of age and the second dose should be given between 4–6 years of age (before start of kindergarten). People born before 1957 are considered immune to measles. All other adults without laboratory evidence of immunity should have at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine. For more information on who should get a measles vaccine visit the DHS measles webpage, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/measles.htm

Wisconsin residents can check the WI Immunization Registry, https://www.dhfswir.org/PR/portalHeader.do or contact their health care provider or local health department to see if they have been vaccinated to protect against measles.

The MMR vaccine is available at area health care providers, local clinics, local health departments, and some pharmacies.

This is an ongoing investigation. For more information and to view statewide case counts, please visit The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website at Immunizations: Measles | Wisconsin
Department of Health Services https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/measles.htm

Vernon County Health Department
608-637-5251
[email protected]

09/08/2026

‼️Session Update!

Unfortunately, due to low registration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Viroqua session.

We welcome the opportunity to have you join us at one of our other upcoming Community Listening Sessions.

Our next session will be held in Westby on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. We also have sessions scheduled in Genoa and Hillsboro.

📢Your Voice Matters!
The Vernon County Intimate Partner Violence Prevention & Response Initiative Team are hosting community listening sessions throughout Vernon County.
This project aims to reduce both the occurrence and long-term effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) through early identification, cross-sector education, trauma-informed mental health services, and stronger community support networks. It engages multiple touchpoints, including schools, clinics, faith institutions, businesses, and law enforcement, and is guided by community input and systems mapping to ensure responsive, locally tailored solutions.
Attending a listening session will provide you with knowledge of what the problem is? Learn the history of this initiative, and why your voice really does matter and how using it will help this project to develop even further.
Please share this with anyone to whom you think would be interested in empowering the communities through participation and shared decision-making in project development.

Register for the session that fits your schedule best through this Jotform link: https://form.jotform.com/262246850708057

09/03/2026

‼️Session Update!

Unfortunately, due to low registration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Viroqua session.

We welcome the opportunity to have you join us at one of our other upcoming Community Listening Sessions.

Our next session will be held in Westby on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. We also have sessions scheduled in Genoa and Hillsboro.

📢Your Voice Matters!

The Vernon County Intimate Partner Violence Prevention & Response Initiative Team are hosting community listening sessions throughout Vernon County.

This project aims to reduce both the occurrence and long-term effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) through early identification, cross-sector education, trauma-informed mental health services, and stronger community support networks. It engages multiple touchpoints, including schools, clinics, faith institutions, businesses, and law enforcement, and is guided by community input and systems mapping to ensure responsive, locally tailored solutions.

Attending a listening session will provide you with knowledge of what the problem is? Learn the history of this initiative, and why your voice really does matter and how using it will help this project to develop even further.

Please share this with anyone to whom you think would be interested in empowering the communities through participation and shared decision-making in project development.

Register for the session that fits your schedule best through this Jotform link: https://form.jotform.com/262246850708057

08/18/2026

08/18/2026

Measles Cases Increase in Southwestern Wisconsin.

The Vernon County Health Department would like to remind our communities that measles is highly contagious. Contact your primary care provider if you feel you have been exposed to measles or to check on your immunization status. You may also contact our department at 608-637-5251 with further question.
Learn more by following this most recent Wisconsin Department of Health Services Updates at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/081826.htm

08/12/2026

Vernon County Health Department in partnership with Great Rivers United Way is excited to share the 2027 Compass Now Survey!

This survey is a way for all community members to share their thoughts on how things are going in our community.
Do you have concerns about housing? Healthcare? Safety? Food insecurity?

You are encouraged to share your thoughts on these topics and more in the survey. Your feedback helps health care partners to identify needs in our community so that we can better serve you.

Plus, if you complete the survey, you are entered for a chance to win a $50 grocery gift card. 3 Cards will be given away per county.

You can access the survey from the QR code below or by going to www.compassnow.org

08/12/2026

All car seats are safe to use, but the safest one is the one that fits your child’s age/height/weight/developmental needs; fits your vehicle; and you can use it correctly every time.

Travel with a peace of mind! Contact us at (608) 637-5251 to schedule your child passenger safety seat check.